THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With the notification of Lok Sabha elections set to be issued in two months, the fronts have started the election preparations in the state. The Nava Kerala Sadas, the mass outreach programme of the cabinet, has raised the hopes of the LDF. The UDF is also gearing up for the election works as it hopes to repeat its massive victory in the state in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. BJP is hoping that the party's victory in the recent assembly elections in the Hindi heartland will help it make inroads in Kerala.

The CPM and the Left have been able to stimulate the ranks and spread the anti-central message through the Nava Kerala Sadas. The political stance adopted by the CPM and its feeder organisations to spearhead the Governor-Government battle and anti-BJP and Modi struggles has paid off. Both the government and the CPM have been able to explain that it was the Centre's hostile approach that made the state's financial management and welfare activities go awry. It is hoped that the campaign by raising Manipur and Palestine issues will also bear fruit. The LDF reckons that it can advance if it takes advantage of the unity in the party and the front and the upper hand it gets through candidate selection.

BJP started its campaign activities by bringing Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Thrissur. BJP is telling people that the Modi government will come to power yet again and that there should be representation for Kerala in the new government. A candidate from the central leadership is expected to contest in Thiruvananthapuram, where the party has high hopes. The party will campaign for votes by pointing out trains, including Vande Bharat, and other development activities.

UDF is trying to retain the 19 seats it won in 2019. The Congress's central leadership has urged the leaders to forget the infighting within the party and fight as a united force. Confusion still prevails among the leaders in connection with the invitation for the inauguration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya. Although all sitting MPs have been asked to contest again, surprise candidates are likely to be announced in some constituencies. The lack of harmony among senior leaders, failure in reorganization and infighting among groups pose challenges to the Congress. At one point, the UDF was affected by the soft stance of the League towards the CPM. However, at present, a definite coordination is visible on the UDF.